Egyptian PM defends terror law press syndicate chief urging cancelling article 33

Prime Minister Ibrahim Mahlab asserted on Wednesday that a draft law on terrorism is not aimed by any means to limit the freedom of press and media.

"The goal was to protect the national security," Mahlab told a meeting with the head of the Syndicate of Journalists, the chairmen of newspapers and the Middle East News Agency.

The premier said "the state is undergoing a real war against terrorism and we should all realize this war."

He noted that recent terrorists attacks in Sinai and Cairo forced the government to accelerate the process of approving the new law.

Mahlab cited unfounded news by several media outlets about the attacks in Sinai.

"This was to undermine the morale of the troops there," he said.

Justice Minister Ahmed El-Zend said the syndicate of journalists should have been consulted before approving this law by the cabinet.

The law should be also introduced for societal dialogue, said Zend.

The syndicate's chief Yahya Qalash asserted that the stance of media on terrorism is clear.

But he said that article 33 of the law should be annulled.

"Journalists feel no enmity for the government," he made it clear.

"They are not against the law," he said, adding that media should instead be assisted to play a role in the war against terrorism.

Some proposals for amending article 33 were discussed during the meeting.